Decanter (96)

Despite its position at the southern end of the appellation Tenuta Argentiera is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, with vineyards between 120 and 240 metres above sea level providing the grapes for this wine. The altitude increases the night and day average temperature differences, improving phenolic ripeness. The conversion from cordon to guyot training is increasing the freshness of the grapes. The blend doesn’t change, remaining 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. In 2017 the winery decided to avoid the production of Ventaglio, the 100% Cabernet Franc cru. Argentiera, however, is really good, confirming the usual grace of the wine with more density and power. On the nose a funky note of merde de poule follows clean, dark fruits with buttery and slightly leafy aromas, while the firm yet ripe palate ends with a dark chocolate character.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The 2013 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has an inviting, warm and enveloping bouquet that seems to surround the senses and give them a big hug. The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, animated citrus fruit underlying the black cherries and wild strawberry notes. There is really quite wonderful precision and focus on the finish. This is one of Jadot's best 2013s.

Wine Advocate (100)

Like the other vintages tasted on this occasion (2016 and 2017), the 2018 Madrona Ranch Proprietary Red is massively concentrated. But what sets it apart from those other great wines is its greater degree of integration and flow. From start to nearly infinite finish, the flavors of ripe cassis, dark chocolate and purple raspberries ease across the full-bodied palate in a seamless, velvety swell of lusciousness, without ever seeming heavy or overdone. Of all the amazing wines I tasted at Abreu this year, this one rises above the others.

Vinous (98-100)

The 2019 Madrona Ranch is a stunning, complete wine. There's not much else to say. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. The depth and purity of the fruit is just mesmerizing. Today, the typical savory notes of Madrona ranch are not particularly expressive, while the tannins are similarly buried by the luxurious depth of the fruit. This is another super-promising wine from David Abreu and Brad Grimes.

Wine Advocate (99+)

The 2012 Thorevilos is flamboyant, phenomenally concentrated, full-bodied, majestic and totally prodigious. It can be drunk young, but most readers will probably prefer to give it a few years of bottle age and consume it over the following 30+ years.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Cask sample. Top-quality premier cru Puligny. Concentration and power on the nose/palate. Savoury edge, plenty of citrus keeping the palate fresh. Should age very well. Stony finish with an intriguing zesty character. GV.

Vinous (94)

Pristine tobacco, dried meat, crushed graphite and earthy tones introduce the impressive 2016 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes. Dried violets add more aromatic complexity. Wrapped around ripe tannins providing solid structure, the 2016 is a decisively savory Les Vieilles Vignes at the beginning of its broad drinking window.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Transparent ruby. Sweet, rich nose. Real bite and masses of freshness! Scrubs the inside of the palate! Long. Very energetic.

"A lifted nose of ripe citrus with almonds and brioche that is extremely open and inviting. The palate treads the line between richness and refreshment perfectly. Round & generous fruit with a decent slug of dosage is balanced out with a super-fresh finish and spray of mineral at the last. 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay here meaning this Blanc de Blancs really over-delivers at the price point. An excellent house pour. " - Will Trotman, Head of UK Sales

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is another incredible wine from this estate that has everything: stunning complexity, full-bodied richness, flawless balance, and incredible length. Revealing a dense purple color as well as Graves-like notes of blackcurrants, cold fireplace, graphite, chocolate, and smoked tobacco, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, flawless balance, and ultra-fine tannins. Based on 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc that was brought up 20 months in 70% new French oak, this thrilling 2018 offers pleasure today yet will evolve for 30-40+ years. Hats off to the team at Alejandro Bulgheroni!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a nuclear fruit bomb of a wine, offering massive richness and depth while being as graceful as a ballerina, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Classic To Kolan crème de cassis, black raspberries, flowery incense, spice, and tobacco notes all define the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied, with a layered, multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It has another 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it. This cuvée is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from four blocks in To Kalon, aged 20 months in 82% new French oak.

Wine Advocate (95)

While the purist in me prefers single-varietal wines, the pleasure seeker (the drinker) loves a blend. Here, in the 2022 Old Quarter GSM, the confluence of varieties creates a soft cushion of flavor in the mouth. This is perhaps not as intellectually driven as some of the Polygon wines, but it undoubtedly has more joy and satisfaction in the glass. There is mineral and fine tannin heaped upon purple fruit and licorice. The tannins are, as with all of the Alkina wines, a prominent feature and yet very finely milled. This is a totally gorgeous wine. I like it a lot.

Decanter (100)

One of two Allegrini wines making their debut on the Place de Bordeaux this year. From an 8ha vineyard at 415m. Richly scented on the nose with a beautiful nuance to the dark fruits, floral scents and sweet spices, all melding together. The texture is so appealing, rich yet smooth and silky, dominating the palate with the flavours of stewed blackcurrants, coffee beans, orange rind, slightly bitter medicinal herbs, juicy balsamic peppery fruit and a beguiling saltiness. It's enveloping in the best way, but still juicy and lively, really leaves a lingering impression on the palate, an absolute lifeforce. Tannins are on the chewy and grippy side, coating the mouth and tongue but the presentation of the flavours is so precise and detailed. This is amazingly good with excellent freshness throughout. 5% Oseleta completes the blend. Ageing 48 months in French oak barriques, 6 months in Slavonian oak. First vintage was 2011 with no 2014 made.

Decanter (95)

Gorgeous rich dark purple in the glass. Quite jammy and concentrated on the nose, heady and perfumed with a lovely delicate florality to it too. Great freshness on the palate, juicy but a dark blackcurrant and cherry fruit juice. Beautifully balanced with integrated tannins and oak. Well defined fruit, generous and quite abundant against softly grippy, velvety tannins that just give support to the overall frame. It's serious but with a lightness of touch and playfulness - energetic and lively but still with depth. A great Alter Ego and confident winemaking on show.

James Suckling (94-95)

Savory black and salted-olive character with oyster shells and black licorice. Fine, almost powdery yet firm tannins. Medium body. Excellent density and structure for the vintage. Second wine of Palmer. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot and 8% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes.

Jeb Dunnuck (95+)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has remarkably consistent integration from the nose to the palate. There are generous aromatics of fresh raspberry, rosemary, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. The palate opens up with ripe and inviting cherry fruit and tea leaf, with supple tannin and freshness on the finish. Its drinkability now should not be confused for a lack of structure, as it is true to the energetic nature of the vintage. Drink 2021-2036.

Wine Advocate (97)

From a beautiful site that must be seen to be believed, the Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is redolent with dark fruit, blackcurrant and crushed slate. The mineral element of Montosoli and its schistic galestro-rich soils comes through beautifully in this vintage to add a linear sense of immediacy and verticality to the bouquet. The mouthfeel is especially elegant, and the wine's acidity is delivered expertly to showcase freshness but more importantly to highlight the quality of the fruit. The effect is very tonic and bright, and you get hints of baked brioche or oven-baked Italian focaccia bread, thanks to careful aging in Slavonian oak. This is a 12,000-bottle release.

Wine Spectator (97)

Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048. 1,600 cases made.

Wine Advocate (97)

The site-specific 2018 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary comes from specific soils, two plots that they believe transmit the maximum expression of limestone to Malbec, giving a structured wine with fine-grained tannins but a little wild. The vines are on stony and gravelly soils with a high percentage of limestone and sand with around 3% clay at 1,300 meters in altitude. The grapes fermented in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts at some 25 degrees Celsius for 15 days. It matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 18 months and no less than 12 months in bottle. This comes from sandy soils and very low yields that give it chalkier tannins and a savage way. This has a slightly rustic touch, vertical and with some lightness. There's always a fresh touch of aromatic herbs (thyme and rockrose), with a textured palate and very tasty and clean flavors in the finish. 20,600 bottles were filled in September 2019.

Tim Atkin MW (98)

Concentration is easy to achieve in Argentina,” says Alberto Antonini, “but texture is much harder.” All I can say is that he has succeeded here on this best-ever release from Altos Las Hormigas, which brings Burgundian levels of grace and complexity to Malbec. Scented, hauntingly graceful and complex with remarkable focus and depth, a hint of oak, sweet red fruits and a lingering finish. Exceptional winemaking.

James Suckling (97)

This is a very tight and fine-grained red with a compressed mouthfeel. The fruit comes through to a class and elegance. Such length. Ethereal structure. Unique. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (97)

The single-vineyard red 2019 Finca Dofí comes from the 14 hectares of vines planted across three parajes (lieu-dits) in Gratallops. This year, it's 87% Garnacha, 12% Cariñena and 1% white grapes (Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in large oak barrels (bocoyes and foudres) for 14 months. It's classy, elegant and fresh with very clean aromas and flavors, not lacking concentration or power. There is superb definition and purity here; it has to be the finest and most elegant Dofí to date. It has finer tannins and more elegance than La Baixada this year. The 2018 was fragrant and this has more clout but superb balance. These two vintages have been great for Dofí. I still remember the 2005, hard as nails then and what the wine is now—spherical and velvety. Dofí on a roll... It was bottled in May 2021, and 21,146 bottles were produced.

Wine Advocate (96-98)

The more backward of the 2021s was the 2021 Finca Dofí, which was very primary and smelled almost like the fermentation vessels, and it took time in the glass to open up. The blend is higher in Garnacha, and they couldn't use the Picapoll as it didn't work well that cool year, so it's 90% Garnacha, 9% Cariñena and 1% white grapes. It achieved 14.5% alcohol but kept better freshness than in 2020, a constant in the 2021 wines. Very promising. They expect 24,000 bottles. It should be bottled around April 2023.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2014 Pedro Ximenez de Anada is dark amber and sweet, with notes of honeyed figs, maple syrup, toffee and almond liqueur. It is rich and unctuous, very full-bodied and a serious decadent elixir. It should last for 20-30 years, or more.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2018 Proprietary Red Blend Amuse Bouche is composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of Morello cherries, star anise, cardamom and red roses, plus a touch of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in poise, delivering loads of vibrant black fruit and exotic spice flavors with bold freshness plus exquisitely ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with fantastic length and perfume. Absolutely stunning Merlot!

Wine Advocate (97)

A resounding success, the deep ruby-colored 2017 Sorella displays beautiful purple highlights and explodes from the glass with aromas of blackberry, cigar box and dried tobacco with hints of graphite and dusty purple flowers. Full-bodied, the wine is ripe and round, with an immaculate mouthfeel, showing an impressive depth of flavor. With succulent red and black fruit expressions and soft cinnamon spice tones from oak, the wine is a whirlwind of complexity across the mid-palate. Emerging with a balanced structure and lifted tannic backbone, the wine lingers with persistence and intention, as flavors of dusty bitter dark chocolate, black plum and spiced dark cherries flutter across the finish. Bravo, this is absolutely stunning and will drink amazingly for the next two decades to come.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Distinguished for its remarkable nuance and depth, the Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Montferrand Chardonnay 2018 is an extraordinary offering from one of Jura's most respected producers. This sustainable, distinct Armenian wine, masterfully crafted in micro-climates uniquely shaped by altitude and geology by Jean-Francois Ganevat, shows a commitment to exceptional viticulture and meticulous winemaking.

A multifaceted nose entices with subtle stone fruits, intertwined with soft oak nuances, whilst on the palate, it exudes a lively minerality, balanced perfectly with a creamy richness. The cool year of 2018 adds a fresh brightness, lending a poised, refreshing finish. The Chardonnay was aged on lees in old oak barrels, resulting in an integrated complexity and superb depth of flavour.

A bottle of Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Montferrand Chardonnay 2018 proposes an opulent layer of elegance wrapped in an uncompromising purity. A truly exquisite addition to any discerning wine collector's cellar.

Wine Advocate (97)

I was blown away by the 2011 Matarocchio (100% Cabernet Franc). From 15-year-old vines planted some 60 meters above sea level on the Tuscan coast, this wine is absolutely stunning, delicious and simply unforgettable. Only produced in 2007, 2009 and 2011, this third edition shows towering aromas of sensuous dark fruit, leather and tobacco. If Cabernet Franc is the darling grape of this appellation, Matarocchio is a reason why. The mouthfeel is penetrating and powerful, but seamless and silky smooth at the same time. The tannin management is excellent. This is one to keep in the cellar.